Driving mechanism for elevators.



No. 68I,476. I Patented Aug. 27, IQOI. III. A. FLAUTT.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR ELEVATORS.

(Application filed m 4, 1900. lunaw wreb. a, 1901. (Ila Model.)

Q/Wmmo Emma Viol Nrrnn STATES MELVIN A. FLAUTT, OF WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR'TO THE GEISER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR ELEVATORS.

SPEGIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,476, dated August 27, 1901.

Application filed May 4, 1900. Renewed February 5, 1901- Serial No. 46,149. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIN AF [-AUTT, aoitizen of the United States, residing at Waynesboro, in the county of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Elevators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same' This invention relates to mechanism for driving the tailings-elevators of threshingmachines; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, which permit the driving-wheel to be revolved without working the elevator when the elevator becomes choked and which then give an audible warning or signal to the thresherman.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of the upper part of a tailings-elevator. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the driving mechanism. Fig. 3 is a front view of the slidable clutch member.

A is a portion of the casing of a threshingmachine.

B is the upper portion of the casing of the elevator, whichraises the tailings from the cleaning mechanism and discharges it into the threshing-cylinder to be rethreshed.

O is a portion of the endless chain which forms the carrier of the elevator, and a represents plates or buckets secured to the said chain for causing the tailings to travel up the casing B.

D is a drive-chain which works the elevator and which passes over a sprocket-wheel d, journaled on the driving-shaft E. Asprocketwheel I) is secured on the shaft E inside the casing B and engages with the elevator-chain C. The driving-shaft E is journaled in suitable bearings supported by the sides of the elevator-casing B.

E is a rectangular block screwed on the screw-threaded end portion e of the shaft E and secured by a jam-nut e. The hub of the sprocket-Wheel d is journaled on the shaft E between the block E and a shoulder f.

.on the back of the clutch member G.

H is a spring which is interposed between the clutch member G and a plate it, supported by the shaft E. Nuts h are provided for setting up the plate It and adjusting the pres sure of the spring H, which is arranged inside the chamber G Without touching its sides.

The object of this mechanism is to permit of the use of drive-chains, both for the elevator inside the casing and for imparting motion to it outside the casing. There are advantages in the use of drive-chains over belts on machines which are exposed to changes of the weather. Ordinarily when drive-chains are used and one of them breaks it causes great delay in the working of the threshing-machine. When the elevator becomes choked with tailings, the elevator-chain is apt to be broken unless a belt'is used which will slip on the driving-pulley. With the mechanism shown a positive driving connection is afforded, which can be set to drive positively up to a certain tension, which need not be much less than the breaking tension of the elevator-chain. When the elevator becomes choked and this tension is exceeded, the clutch member F slips upon the clutch member G, which ceases to revolve and is moved longitudinally against the pressure of thespring. Asthesprocket-wheeldcontinues to revolve the clutch member G is moved back and forth on the block E and the teeth of the clutch members make considerable noise each time they are forced into engagement. This noise is increased by the cylinder or bell G, which is thrown into vibration 5 and acts as a resonator, so that the operator has a warning signal provided for him. The operator can relieve the choked condition of the elevator ordinarily without stopping the machine or removing or breaking the drivechain.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with a driving-shaft, and a driving-wheel journaled thereon and provided with a serrated clutch member; of a serrated clutch member which revolves the said shaft and is slidable longitudinally on it, a resonator carried by one of the said clutch members and operating to give an alarm when the slidable clutch member is reciprocated longitudinally, and means for normally holding the said clutch members in driving connection, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a driving-shaft provided with a shoulder, and a screw-threaded end portion; of a rectangular block screwed on the said end portion, a driving-Wheel provided with a clutch mem her and journaled on the said shaft between the said shoulder and block, a clutch member slidable longitudinally on the said block and operating to revolve the said shaft, a spring normally holding the said clutch members in driving con nection, and means for varying the pressure of the said spring engaging with the said screwthreaded end portion of the shaft, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with an elevator provided with a driving-shaft, of a driving-Wheel journaled on the said shaft and provided with a serrated clutch member, a serrated clutch member which revolves the said shaft and is slidable longitudinally on it, a resonator carried by the slidable clutch member and oprating to give an alarm when the slidable clutch member is reciprocated longitudinally, and a spring holding the said clutch members in driving connection until the resistance in the elevator exceeds a prearranged limit, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with an elevator provided with a driving-shaft having a shoulder, and a rectangular block secured on the said shaft; of a driving-wheel journaled on the said shaft between the said shoulder and block and provided with a clutch member, a clutch memberslidabl efllongitudinally 011 the said block and provided with a resonator for giving an alarm when the resistance in the elevator exceeds a prearranged limit, a spring normally holding the said clutch mechanism in driving connection, and means for varying the pressure of the said spring, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MELVIN A. FLAUTT.

lVitnesses:

GEO. H. RussELL, D. M. RUSSELL. 

